The Lost Tradition of Sending a Postcard

Once upon a time, maybe only ten years ago, sending a postcard from Italy (for example) was a well thought out undertaking designed to share your experiences and to mischievously remind your friends and family that you were “here” and they were “there”.

It was a time tested ritual that has unfortunately gone out of fashion due to the advances in technology.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

In the “Old Days” the postcard process went something like this…..

Imagine you are strolling through a piazza in Rome and the scene before you triggers a desire to send a postcard of this view to your best friend back home in the States.

Inspired, you wander around searching for a cartoleria (paper goods store) and find one soon enough.

You twirl the stand and ultimately select a rather commercial card, but it illustrates the image of your piazza. You make your purchase and set out looking for a nice café to sit and write a few lines.

You order a Campari and Soda with its complimentary bowl of nuts or potato chips.

You rummage through your backpack to find a pen that works and your little address book and write a brief note… “Having a wonderful time! Wish you were here!” Add your friend’s address and you are ready for the next step…. mailing the card.

After finishing your Campari, you set off to find the nearest Post Office or a Tabacchino (a small convenience store that sells candy, cigarettes and stamps). You ask the clerk for “francoboli per la cartolina al Stati Uniti” (postage stamps for a postcard being sent to the United States) and fish out the correct coins.

After this brief exchange, you lick the stamps, find the nearest post box and say goodbye to your postcard, hoping it gets to your friend before you get back home.

Back Home… On the receiving end:

Imagine walking out to your home mailbox and there amongst all those bills and junk mail lies a hand written, hand stamped postcard! It’s from your best friend who is in Italy! How far it has traveled? A treasure to behold… hmmm, looks like a stain from Campari on the back.

How cool is that?

Postcard Apps Changed the Process

Along with the explosion of “Smartphone” usage came applications for pretty much everything imaginable…. even postcard creating and sending apps from companies such as Postgram, Postino, Postcardly and Touchnote. Just like the buggy whip, the old fashion postcard of yore is on its way out of fashion.

This scenario goes something like this…

Imagine you are strolling through a piazza in Rome and the scene before you triggers a desire to send a postcard of this view to your best friend back home in the States.

You take out your smartphone and snap a photo of the sight or maybe even a selfie! You find a nice place (with Wi-Fi) to sit down and order a Compari and Soda and a small bowl of potato chips. You fire up your smart phone and find your favorite “Postcard” application.

After several frustrating attempts at your correct password, you finally get onto the site. You can use the photo you just took or use one from your camera roll. Click and follow the prompts… type your message and pick the address that hopefully you have already entered on their contact list.

Click “send” and your postcard will be printed, stamped and sent from the U.S. arriving in your friend’s mailbox in a couple of days.

Back Home… On the receiving end:

Imagine walking out to your home mailbox and there amongst all those bills and junk mail lays a type written, stamped postcard! It’s from your best friend who is in Italy… but the postmark is from the states.

How did she do that?

How cool is that?

Me and My Selfie

Today the “postcard” process goes something like this…

Imagine you are strolling through a piazza in Rome and the scene before you triggers a desire to send a postcard of this view to your best friend back home in the States.

But that is too much trouble and takes too long… Just snap a quick photo… a selfie for sure and post it on Facebook… you can’t wait to count how many “LIKES” you get!

How cool is that?

Back Home… On the receiving end:

“Oh, another Facebook post from what’s-her-name… she must be in Italy again… ho hum… guess I better give her an obligatory LIKE”… and on to the next post.

Summary

In a few short years we have come so far.

The simple but elegant gift of a handwritten postcard has given way to see it, click it, send it.